Positioning and removing device for railroad machine



LI -Q" Feb. 12, 1957 H. H. TALBOYS 2,781,002

POSITIONING AND REMOVINGbEVICE FOR RAILROAD MACHINE Filed Aug. 16, 19523 Sheets-Sheet l IKE/e7? for ffeififyjf. fbia ys @MMM Feb. 12, 1957 H.H. TALBOYS POSITIONING AND REMOVING DEVICE FOR RAILROAD MACHINE FiledAug. 16, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 k II"- Feb. 12, 1957 H. H. TALBOYSPOSITIONING AND REMOVING DEVICE FOR RAILROAD MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed Aug. 16, 1952 M lffarneys tilted States Patent POSITIQNHQG ANDREMOVING DEVICE FOR RAHJROAD IvIACHlNE Henry H. Talhoys, Milwaukee,Wis., assignor to Nordberg Manufacturmg Company, Milwaukee, Win, acorporation of Wisconsin Appiication August 16, 1952, Serial No. 304,827

7 Claims. (Cl. 105--177) It is an object of this invention to constructa positioning device which facilitates removal of a machine fromrailroad tracks upon which the machine operates.

This invention is directed to an improved device for proper positioningof a railroad machine, such as a crane, ballast digging machine, or thelike, along a pair of setoff rails positioned at right angle to therailroad track on which the machine operates.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a positioningdevice or system adapted to hold a machine on the set-oil" rails whenmoving.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved positioningdevice which facilitates turning the machine on railroad tracks.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved controlledpositioning mechanism, which includes means for holding the machine inplace along tracks of a railroad and also includes means for removingthe machine from the railroad tracks.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time in thecourse of the ensuing specification and claims.

Referring generally now to the drawings,

Figure 1 indicates a side elevational view of a railroad machineprovided with my improved positioning device;

Figure 2 is an end view of the machine shown in Figure l and having theoperative parts of my device in inoperative position;

Figure 3 is an end view similar to Figure 2, but showing the operativeparts of my device in an operative position;

Figure 4 is an end view of my device in position on the railroad machinesimilar to Figures 2 and 3, but showing the operative elements of mydevice in another operative position on the set-off rails;

Figure 5 is a detail view of a portion of the device shown in Figure 4taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a side view of the operative elements shown in Figure 5.

Referring specifically now to the drawings, wherein like parts aredesignated by like characters throughout, in Figure l is shown a sideview of any suitable railroad machine equipped with my positioningdevice. The machine itself may take any one of several forms and isshown in the drawings more or less diagrammatically. For example, themachine may carry a suitable boom assembly equipped with winch and cableor may take the form of an excavator adapted to dig ballast from betweenthe ties of a railroad track or flongside the ties of a railroad track.Essentially, the machine includes longitudinally extending side framemembers 1 and front and rear wheels 2 and 3, suitably mounted inbearings 4 and 5 carried by the longitudinally extending frame members.Shown in the drawings are track rails 6, upon which the wheels areadapted to rest, and supporting ties 7. The machine may be driven by anysuitable motor 8 in driving engagement with the wheels through anysuitable actuating connection 9. Transversely extending frame members10, seen best in Figures 2, 3 and 4, join the longitudinally extendingside frame members 1 in making up the remainder of the supporting frame.

In the normal use of a machine adapted to be utilized in work along therailroad track, some provision has to be made for the removal of themachine from the track at periodic intervals. Suitable provision shouldalso be made for the turning of such a machine on the track, andfurthermore suitable means should be provided to keep the machine fromoverturning. My improved positioning device makes provision for theseoperations.

A pair of positioning elements 11 are mounted at each end of the machineframe, and arranged to engage each of the track rails at each end of theframe. Each positioning element 11 is pivotally mounted on the frame asat 12. The positioning elements 11 include a pair of spaced sideportions 13 and 14, for a purpose to be described, as seen best inFigure 5. The positioning elements 11 may preferably take the form of aU-shaped channel member given a configuration to be later described.Each positioning element 11 is movable between an inwardly extendinginoperative position as shown in Figure 2 to a generally downwardlyextending operative position as shown in Figure 3 and an intermediateoperative position shown in Figure 4. The positioning elements are of alength sufficient to extend below the enlarged upper portion of thetrack rails, as seen best in Figure 3. The elements are cut away as at15, in order to provide hook portions 16 adapted to swing intoengagement with the underside of the head portions 6a of the rails 6, asseen in Figure 3. By swinging the positioning elements from theinoperative position, shown in Figure 2, to the operative position shownin Figure 3, the hook portions 16 of the positioning elements willengage the track rails, in order to hold the machine in position andprevent it from overturning. When in the position shown in Figure 3, thepositioning elements serve to preclude tipping of the machine about onerail as an axis. An actuating linkage, designated generally at 17, to bedescribed in detail in ensuing portions of this specification, serves toswing the positioning elements from their inoperative position to theiroperative position. It will be apparent that a similar actuating linkageis provided at each end of the machine frame, for each pair of elements.

Rollers 13 are journaled at 19 in the side portions 13 and 14 of eachpositioning element, intermediate the hook portions 16 and pivot 12. Theposition of the rollers is such, that when the positioning elements areswung downwardly into rail engaging operative position, the peripheriesof the rollers are spaced a slight distance above the top surface of thetrack rails, as seen best in Figure 3. When it is desired to remove themachine from the track rails, a set-oft" rail is positioned transverselyof the track rails beneath the positioning elements on each end of themachine frame. it will be apparent that by swinging the positioningelements 11 into the operative position of Figure 4, the rollers willengage the transversely extending rails 21) and elevate the machine fromthe track rail 6. The machine may then be simply rolled on thetransversely extending rails 2% to a position alongside the track rails,When so moving the machine, the side members 13 and 14 of thepositioning elements serve to maintain the position of the machine withrespect to the rails 20, as will be apparent from Figure 5. That is tosay, the side plates or members 13 and 14 extend downwardly to aposition on each side of the transverse rails 20 and preclude transversedisplacement of the machine with respect to these set-ofi rails.

Under some conditions of operation of track machines, a machine isprovided with a mechanism adapted to work on one side of the machineonly. Thus, as such a machine moves down a railroad track orright-of-way upon which it is working, it can operate along one side ofthe track only. When it is desired to operate on the other side of thetrack, it is necessary to lift the machine from the rails and turn themachine around for Working along the other side of the track. Myimproved positioning device includes a means which eliminates thenecessity for removing the machine in its entirety from the track forturning of the machine.

As seen best in Figure 1, a sub-frame indicated generally at 21 ispositioned centrally and intermediate the front and rear wheels 2 and 3of the machine. The sub-frame includes depending frame members 22supported by the main frame. Longitudinally extending members 23 andtransversely extending members 24 are joined to and supported by thedepending frame members 22 and make up the remainder of the sub-frame. Afixed plate 25, which is preferably disk-shape, is supported in anysuitable fashion by the transversely extending frame members 24, as seenbest in Figure 3. A rotatable plate 26, which is also preferablydisk-shape in form, is pivoted to the fixed 'plate 25 by means of acentral pivot member 27. The

rotatable plate 26 may have its upper surface and bearing engagementwith a fixed plate 25. The rotatable plate 26 is adapted to support theentire machine upon any suitable member or supporting block 28positioned beneath the rotatableplate and intermediate the track railsas seen in Figure 4. I

When it' becomes necessary to turn the machine, the set-off rails 20 arepositioned beneath the rollers 18 and the machine is elevated byswinging the positioning elements from their inoperative position totheir intermediate operative position, when the supporting wheels 2 and3 of the machine are disposed above the track rails 6. The supportingblock 28 is then placed beneath the rotatable plate 26 and thepositioning elements are swung back into inoperative position, thusallowing the machine to rest upon the supporting block 28. The machinemay then be rotated about the pivot 27 for operation on the oppositeside of the track. After being rotated 180 degrees, the machine may beelevated from its supported position on the supporting block 28 by theuse of the set-off rails 20 and rollers 18, and the block 28 may then beremoved. The machine may be moved back to its supported position on thetrack rails for further working operations by swinging the positioningelements 11 to inoperative position and removing the set-off rails 20.

In order to move the positioning elements from their inoperativeposition to their operative positions, I provide a novel controllinkage, there being one such control linkage at each end of the machineframe. Each control linkage includes a rockable lever29 pivotallymounted as at 30 on any suitable frame member positioned centrally ofthe machine, as shown in Figure 3. Opposed ends of the rockable leverr29are pivotally connected, as at 31 and 32, to connecting links 33 and 34which are, in turn pivotally connected as at 35 and 36 to upstandingportions 11a of the positioning elements. It will be apparent thatclockwise movement of the rockable lever 29 will swing the positioningelements from their inoperative position, shown in Figure 2, to theiroperative positions, shown in Figures 3 and 4. A control handle 37 ismounted on the pivot member 30 for unitary movement with the rockablelever 2?. An operator of the machine may selectively actuate thepositioning elements by properly swinging the control handle 37 back andforth between the inoperative position, shown in Figure 2, to theoperative positions, shown in Figures 3 and 4.

A locking lever 38 is pivotaliy mounted upon an upstanding frame member39, as at 40, in order to hold the control handle in the properoperative position. For example, the locking lever 38 includes aprojection 41 adapted to preclude movement of the positioning elements11 and control handle 37 to inoperative position when the positioningelements 11 are employed to engage the set-ofi rails and elevate themachine for removal from the track. 7

Another locking projection 42 is provided on the locking lever 38intermediate the projection 41 and pivot .40 and is adapted to precludeswinging movement of the control handle 37 and positioning elements 11to inoperative position when the positioning elements engage the trackrails to hold the machine from overturning. If desired, lockingprojections may be made integral with the upstanding frame member 39 orother suitable frame members to hold the control handle and positioningelements in their proper positions.

it will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practicaland operative device, nevertheless, many changes may be made in size,shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spiritof my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to betaken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than aslimiting me to my specific showing herein.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

The positioning elements serve, upon proper actuation thereof, topreclude tipping of the machine about one rail as an axis, to remove themachine from the track rails when necessary and to provide a convenientmeans for turning the machine with respect to the track rails.

For example, as the machine moves along the track rails 6 during itsworking operations and where the machine is performing such workingoperations that would normally tend to provide a tipping moment aboutone side of the machine, the control handle 37 may be actuated to swingthe positioning elements 11 from their inoperative position in Figure 2to their operative position in Figure 3, where the hooked end portions16 of the positioning elements grip the underside of the head portions6a of the track rails 6, thus serving firmlyto anchor the machine toboth rails. When it is desired to move to another location, the controlhandle 37 and positioning elements 11 are simply swung'back to theirinoperative position of Figure 2' and the machine may be moved toanother position along the track.

When it is desired to remove the machine from the track, the transverseset-off rails 20 are inserted beneath the rollers 18 at each end of themachine, as shown in Figure 2. The control handle 37 is then swung aboutits pivot to its intermediate operative position, shown in Figure 4,toraise the machine and the machine may be simply rolled along the set-01frails to a position alongside the track rails 6. After removal from theset-oil rails, the machine may be re-positioned on the track rails bysetting the set-oft rails 20 on the track rails 6 and rolling themachine into its position over the track rails, as shown in Figure 4.The control handles 37 at each end of the machine may then be swung backinto their inoperative position, thus allowing the machine to settle onthe track rails.

In case it is desired to turn the machine degrees, the set-off rails arepositioned as shown in Figure '4 and the machine is elevated from thetrack rails by the use of the positioning elements 11 and the rollers18. The supporting block 23, or other suitable supporting structure, isplaced beneath the rotatable plate 26. The machine may then be turnedthrough 180 degrees on the rotatable support 26. The set-off rails 20are then reinserted beneath the positioning elements and the machineelevated from the supporting block 28. When the sup.- porting block 28has been removed, the positioning elements 11 may be swung back to theirinoperative position of Figure 2, thus allowing the machine to settleupon the track rails and the transverse rails 20 may be removed. i

The positioning device herein disclosed thus provides a machine with theutmost flexibility and facility of working operations.

I claim:

1. An anchoring and elevating device for use with railroad machines,including an element having one end portion adapted to be pivotallymounted for movement about an axis upon the machine frame, a railengaging portion at the other end of said element, said rail engagingportion being formed and adapted to move into gripping engagement with atrack rail upon movement of the element from an inoperative position toan operative position, and a roller journaled for rotation intermediatethe rail engaging portion and the pivotal end portion of the element,said roller being rotatable about an axis extending generally parallelto said first axis and being formed and adapted to support the machineupon a transverse rail upon movement of the element from in operativeposition to operative position.

2. A device as recited in claim 1, wherein said element is formed of achannelshaped member having side portions adapted to restrict movementor the roller transversely of the set-off rails, and the roller isjournaled in the sides of the channel-shaped member.

3. A railroad machine including a machine frame having supporting wheelsadapted for supporting engagement with track rails, rail-engaging hookmembers swingably mounted at each end and at each side of said frame forengagement, upon movement thereof, with the track rails, a setoff rollercarried by each hook member whereby said rollers may contact setoffrails extending transversely to said track rails when said setoff railsare positioned beneath said rollers, a linkage for swinging each saidhook member toward rail-engaging position, movement of said hook memberstoward rail-engaging position, when said setoff rails are positionedbeneath said rollers, being eflfective to cause contact of said rollerswith said setoff rails, to elevate said frame from said track rails, andclear the hook members from the track rails whereby said frame may bemoved laterally from said track rails on said rollers.

4. A railroad machine including a machine frame having supporting wheelsadapted for supporting engagement with track rails, rail-engaging hookmembers swingably mounted at each end and at each side of said frame forengagement, upon movement thereof, with the track rails, a setofi rollercarried by each hook member whereby said rollers may contact setofirails ex tending transversely to said track rails when said setofi railsare positioned beneath said rollers, a linkage for swinging each saidhook member toward rail-engaging position, movement of said hook memberstoward railengaging position, when said setofi rails are positionedbeneath said rollers, being effective to cause contact of said rollerswith said setoflf rails, to elevate said frame from said track rails andclear the hook members from the track rails whereby said frame may bemoved laterally from said track rails on said rollers, latch means forholding said hook members in rail-engaging position, and latch means forholding said rollers in engagement with said setoif rails.

5. The structure of claim 3 wherein each said roller is mounted forrotation on its book member about an axis extending parallel to saidtrack rails, a portion of said hook member being ettective when saidroller engages said setofif rail to overlie said setofi rail andrestrict lateral movement of said roller with respect to said setoffrail.

6. A setoft and anchoring device for railroad machines and the like,comprising, in combination with a machine frame having supporting wheelsadapted for supporting engagement with rails, machine anchoring elementsdisposed at each end of the machine frame adapted to be moved from aninoperative position to a rail engaging position, said anchoringelements including rail engaging members formed and adapted to engagethe track rails, and roller elements positioned intermediate the bodyportions of the anchoring elements, said roller elements being adaptedfor engagement with setolf rails extending transversely to the trackrails upon movement of said anchoring elements toward rail engagingposition, movement of said anchoring elements toward rail engagingposition and engagement of said roller elements with said setofi railsbeing efiective to elevate said frame and prevent engagement of saidanchoring elements with said track rails.

7. A device for use in selectively anchoring a track machine to arailroad track and removing the machine from the track including a bodyhaving one portion adapted to be pivotally mounted on the machine, saidbody including a hook end portion adapted for engagement with a trackrail, a roller journaled for rotation in the body and positionedintermediate said hook end portion and said first named portion, saidroller being adapted for rotation about an axis extending generallyparallel to said railroad track, said roller having an ex posedperipheral surface adapted for engagement with a setor'f rail extendingtransversely to the railroad track.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS633,235 Dunn Sept. 19, 1899 701,207 Ludlow May 27, 1902 1,017,290 Ham eta1. Feb. 13, 1912 1,068,492 Falvey July 29, 1913 1,264,376 DeVey et a1Apr. 30, 1918 1,733,520 Talboys Oct. 29, 1929 1,776,884 Carpenter Sept.30, 1930 1,780,989 Talboys Nov. 11, 1930 2,197,375 Dafnis Apr. 16, 19402,478,535 Kershaw Aug. 9, 1949 2,530,588 Talboys Nov. 21, 1950 2,530,589Protzeller Nov. 21, 1950 2,627,234 Richards Feb. 3, 1953 2,693,769Herlehy Nov. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 436,455 Germany Nov. 2, 1926 22,834Great Britain June 1, 1936

